The Randolph counseling program is aligned with Arlington Public Schools District’s beliefs and philosophy, counseling mission statement and a privacy/confidentiality statement.

MISSION:

The mission of Arlington Public Schools (APS) counselors is to provide a comprehensive guidance program that will assist all students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to become effective students, responsible citizens, productive workers and lifelong learners.

The APS School Counseling Program is aligned with the school district’s five Strategic Plan Goals: 1) ensure every student is challenged and engaged; 2) eliminate achievement gaps; 3) recruit, retain, and develop high quality staff; 4) provide optimal learning environments; 5) meet the needs of the whole child. The Strategic Plan Goals are an integral part of each school’s total program with a commitment to individual uniqueness, an understanding of multicultural diversity and the maximum development of human potential.

The counseling program addresses the academic, career and personal/social needs of all students. Our ultimate goal is for students to graduate from the Arlington Public Schools system with the competencies necessary to be able to make self-directed, realistic and responsible decisions and to be successful contributors to society. This supports the school system’s goal of preparing students to live and work in a global society.

BELIEFS AND PHILOSOPHY:

The professional school counselors in APS school district believe

All students have dignity and worth

All students have the right to participate in the school counseling program

All students’ ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual differences and special needs are considered in planning, and implementing the school counseling program

All students K-12 shall have access to a full-time, state-certified, master’s degree level school counselor to deliver the counseling program

The APS comprehensive school counseling program should:

Be based on specified goals and developmental student competencies for all students K-12

Be planned and coordinated by school counselor(s) in collaboration with other stakeholders (school staff, parent or guardian and community representatives)

Utilize the many combined resources of the community to deliver programs

Collaborate with stakeholders to monitor students’ results

Use data to drive program development and evaluation

All professional school counselors in the APS school district:

Abide by the professional school counseling ethics as advocated by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

Participate in professional development activities essential to maintain a quality school counseling program.

Confidentiality

Privacy and confidentiality are essential to having an effective school counseling program. Randolph recognizes the importance of good communication and good working relationships between students, parents, and the school. Therefore, every effort will be made to protect student and parent privacy rights except under certain limited conditions. These conditions generally included safety issues (harm to self and/others), legal issues, and professional responsibilities (see the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors at www.schoolcounselor.org).